Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-03-16
With sudden inspiration. He smiled sad

'What does that matter? shall never
see my little wife. 1t is her loving hearl
that must suffice me-"
j But she had made her resolution.
i II II try to be little pretty for your sake,
81 that when others look upon your wife
you need rot blush for her."
So he, being convalescent, went back ta
town. He had determined to have other
aud the best med cal aid for his injured
ey's. lie was to return at Christmas for
their wedding; the iuterim was left to Polly
for her proposed reform.
She set about it earnestly. The heavy
tmasses of luxuriant hair were carefully ar
ranged and braided, and ol it was beauti-
fully small and shapely head round which
the glossy coils lay smooth and close. Her
long confinement in the darkened room had
cleared sun-burn from her clear, fair skin,
and love and happiness had given new
expression to pair of candid, gentle, soft,
gray eyes; and when at last Miram's kind
wish was gratiied, and we'll made and be-
coming dresses set off graceful, girlish
form, the "ngly duck" was ugly nc longer,
and Pretty Polly Hopkins was pretty in
deed.
| Meantime the mails brought the joyful
uews-Hngh was in Europe, in a skilled
physicians care, who gave him hopes of re-
covering his sight. He asked that their
marriage be postponed till spring, She
assented to that, for such reason most
joyfully.
So the winter passed; spring was at hand.
Hugh Melville set forth. with sight restor
| ed, to fulfil the promise he had given in his
blinduess-to marry the wcmaa he had
never yet behe,d.
He felt like one who goes to his execu-
T., IL IL.
attendant miseries, he bad naturally cung
to the gentle girl whose devotion had so
greatly aIeviated his sufferiugs aud touch
ed his heart. What did her ugliness mat
ter to one who never could behold ii? But
now it was very different affair. since be
could see. Surely such hideous partner
for life would be pusitive calamity.
| For, as is usually the case, his imagina-
tion. cropping blindly in the dark, had
greatly exaggerated the actual facts. He
pictured to himself sort ofmodern Gnrgon.
a terrible, coarse creature, with snub nose
and frightful mouth, and an ngly freekled
| face, surrOunded-last and worst of abby
| that deiestable deep red hair
"Aud this creature is to be my wifer' be
sighed. eft would almost have been better
ts have continued blind, since have DOOM
ed myself to such ompaninnship!'
| He had written to prepare her for his
coming, but had not informed her upon
what day he shnuld arrive, for he thought:
''Tll get sight of her before she sees me
at all, So as to get used to her appearance,
and not shock or wound the po-r souls
! sensitive heart by any show If disgust. If
the sacrifice is to be made at all, it may as
well be made gracionslv."
| By all which you will see that he enter
| tanned some most exaggerated notions, and
also that be was an honorable aud generous
fellow who meant at all events to keep his
word; also that he had-n spite of his no
tious aud pre- jud ices tender and aft f-ctior
ate regard fn lbe little nurse to whose care
he owed no less than his life.
A large garden ran all around Mrs. Hop
kin's cottage. 1t was May The season
was ea'ly, and the trees we're nf delicate
green. Hugh Melville stood just outside
the gate, CO cealed by the trunk of large
tree watching the house.
Miriam was in the garden busy with the
flower borders. and the voice of Agnes conld
be heard in the parlor, practicing at the
piano new song. All at once his heart
gave leap and great Thrill. lie had
heard Polly speaking inside.
The simplest words: Della! Cousin
Della! where are you? Do take the water
ing can cut to Miriam, please. I'm 80
bnsy!
He smiled, involuntarily, with pleasure at
the sound; then sighed.
'.Dear little Polly" he thought, "why
couldn't pretty face belong to that soft,
sweet voice?''
Next moment a face he had never seen
appeared at the house door, and charming
girl ran out with the watering can, A girl
with rich, dark auburn hair, and candid,
sofG gray eyes. She had not beautiful
face, by any means. The sensitive month
was rather large, and the expressive fea-
lures were irregular, but she had the great
charms of an animated expression, bright
complexion. aud fine teeth and hair and
eyes. as we'll as graceful figure
That's Della" he thought. "Thcy are
all pretty but Polly All well, I'll ask for
her," Aud he Herewith opened the gate
and entered the garden.
The girl turned at the sound-there was
a Cry of joy-the waterng-can fell from
Dallas hand, and she bounded down the
path to greet him. He started back in sur
prise.
k"Ob, Hugh!" cried the soft sweet voice
be knew so well. "Don't you know me
Hugh? I'm Polly-Poly Hopkins!"
Next inmate he had clasped her in his
arms
IL couldn't find Dsia, SO l brought out
the can myself" she explained. when he
told her of his mistake 'and forget that
you couldn't know me, having mover seen
me before. All, perhaps you will not love
me now-now that you can see me"
He stopped her with kiss
dearest aud best of g;rlsI My heart
thrilled just now at the mere suuu of you
voice, even though l believed you were
quite frightfnl! | leved you truly while
you wsre still the Ugly Duck. lis it like
Iy thar shall change to 'P.etty Polly Hop
kinsr"-N. Y. Ledger.
EARLY PAsTURE.-Early pasture, so
selviceable on every farm, is to be secured
by sowing grasses which stalt early, not bx
turning The stock on the grass as soon as it
is high enough to be grazed. The grass
must take a considerable growth before it
is fiji for food, and the more favorable the
weaiher, the greater the growth required. |
Young grass has too large Il proportion ui
water, and when eaten by animals, phi sizes |
them while Attending little nutriment. 1t
is not uncommon to see auimals turned on
pasture early, lose fl -sh. The pastures also
are jured. The ground is wet aud soft, |
and all the grasses, except possibly Blue |
grass, are impaired by the trampliDg they |
suffer. Grszed upon before they have made
good r"Ot-grOwth and gathered consider
able vig@r. grasses are slow to start mp
again, and their growth is feeble Pastur-
ing early, therefore. is extravagant. Ifthe
animals are kept on dry feed two weeks
longer, they will continue to gain flesh in
stead Of losing it. A patch Of rye should be
s"wn in the fall for early spring pasture
american Agricuiturist for March,
The Housekeeper's Complaint.
81 am discouraged. l have too much to
do. | am tired. / am sick. suppose
was put into this house to keep it clean,
but it is too much work. l won't try. /
will go to sleep. I don't care what be-
comes of the house,
The above is an allegory. The discour-
aged housekeeper is the liver, which, in
deed, is often called s'the housekeeper of
eur health.' If it does go to sleep as it
threatened, a crowd of diseases are all ready
"a n.